Marvel Moves Unlimited Digital To iPads, iPhones

In the past, comic readers could subscribe to individual comics via the U.S. Mail, but as such services continue to make their way out, Marvel Comics today announced one of its modern subscription models will get a facelift.

In advance of their appearance at the SXSW Interactive conference in Austin, TX, the publisher revealed to tech blog Gizmodo that the service formerly known as Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited -- a web-based model that gave readers access to thousands of classic and modern comic books for a monthly fee -- has been rebranded as Marvel Unlimited and will emigrate to iPads and iPhones. Marvel also noted some intent to extend the service to Android tablet devices in the future.

The subscriptions will run $10 a month or a $60 annual fee if readers jump on during the initial offering period. The tech blog notes that 13,000 Marvel comics exist in the server, and the app will allow you to store six comics at a time on your device to read when not online -- a "borrow function" synched to their comiXology-powered app. Access to the publisher's ever-growing line of comics is the selling point here rather than the tricked-out functions of Marvel's app; ew issues of current Marvel comics will be made available through the service after about six months.

The company also offered a hint that more upgrades to the services catalogue were in the offing, including the possibility of expanding the six-issue "borrow" limitation as well as a possible "fan club" option later this year.